Rollback BIOS X250 from v1.23

The built-in "Lenovo Update" agent program recommended a BIOS update v1.23 (it's a critical update), so I did. And then my system doesn't boot: it's hangs on the "Starting Windows" logo page (Windows 7 64 bit).

So I am trying to rollback to the last working version v1.21. Confirmed that my machine is type 20CL, went here, go the bootable CD, successfully went to the BIOS Update Utility, and then it said: "system program file is not correct for this system"

The followings settings in BIOS were applied to try enable a rollback of BIOS but failed...

Re: Rollback BIOS X250 from v1.23

‎08-15-201608:52 AM

As UEFI version 1.23 fixes a severe security issue, a rollback to previous versions requires a hardware flasher. From the readme of UEFI version 1.23: "If the UEFI BIOS has been updated to version 1.23 or higher, it is no longer able to roll back to the version before 1.23 for security improvement"

Re: Rollback BIOS X250 from v1.23

‎08-15-201608:38 PM

Hello fb1996,

Thanks for the message. This clears my doubt why I wasn't able to rollback to BIOS v1.21, this is by-design then, though I am not sure if this is a handling that makes sense: in case of problem after update there should be a way out... "security improvement" is not a very good reason for me...

* So this BIOS v1.23 update is a one-way ticket *

So problem remains, it's the classic classpnp.sys hangs issue. I cannot rollback BIOS, there is no option to switch to IDE / ATAPI mode. So I am basically stuck. Seems to me the only sure-to-work way would be a system re-install....

Re: Rollback BIOS X250 from v1.23

‎08-15-201610:21 PM

Hello,

I don't have my ThinkPad X250 in front of me to confirm this, but I'm wondering if there is an option somewhere in the BIOS to enable Legacy or CSM mode instead of pure-UEFI for the firmware type. Enabling this may allow Windows 7 to boot as it normally would.

Re: Rollback BIOS X250 from v1.23

Really glad for all the support here. This is the most responsive manufacturer forum I have ever experienced

@Aryeh Goretsky: tried all permutations of UEFI/Legacy Boot, no luck there

@Amy Tupper: unfortunately I did not have chance to try out your suggestion. I moved on to do full system re-installation before noticing your message. I could not afford the down-time so moved on to the tedious but guarantee-to-work way to resolve this. I am now typing on my X250. Wish Lenovo can release a new BIOS version which does enable user to downgrade from there. So fellows like me can first upgrade to say v1.24, then downgrade to v1.21 from there.